Tuesday, January 02, 2018 /10:37AM /FDCNigeria’s unemployment rate rose to 18.8% in Q3 2017, from 16.2% in Q2
and 13.9% in Q3’16. This is also the 11th highest unemployment rate in the
world. Likewise, the underemployment rate inched to 21.2% in Q3, from 21.1% in
Q2, and 19.1% in Q3’16. This means that 34.02 million people were either
unemployed or underemployed in the third quarter of 2017.Nigeria’s misery index (combined unemployment, underemployment and
inflation rates) is now at 55.9. Analysis & OutlookRivers state has the highest unemployment rate of 41.8% and a misery
index of 79.87. The state’s economic activity is concentrated on oil and gas,
which involves automated processes and requires low human capital.
Taraba, which is dominated by agriculture, a labor intensive sector, has the
lowest misery index of 29.59.The spike in unemployment and underemployment occurred within the same
period Nigeria exited recession and recorded a positive GDP growth rate of 1.4%
(Q3’17). This means that Nigeria recorded a jobless growth in Q2 and Q3 of
2017.

We expect the unemployment rate to ease marginally in 2018, given the
anticipated uptick in private sector activity. It is a lagging economic
indicator and its movement is a response to economic events or trends that have
occurred. Hence the economic growth and pick up in business activities will be
felt on the job data in 2018.The misery index is an economic indicator that measures the well being
of the average citizen. It looks at the purchasing power of income, the ease of
getting paid work, and the quality of available jobs. Unemployment +
Underemployment + Inflation = Misery Index. Related News